Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, a division of Beckman Instruments, Inc., became in 1956 the first establishment, in what came to be known as Silicon Valley, to work on silicon semiconductor devices. In 1957, the division's eight leading scientists resigned and became the core of a new venture of an existing technology company. The Beckman division never recovered from that loss of personnel, and was purchased by Clevite in 1960, then sold to ITT in 1968, and shortly after, officially closed.

Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, a division of Beckman Instruments, Inc., became in 1956 the first establishment, in what came to be known as Silicon Valley, to work on silicon semiconductor devices. In 1957, the division's eight leading scientists resigned and became the core of a new venture of an existing technology company. The Beckman division never recovered from that loss of personnel, and was purchased by Clevite in 1960, then sold to ITT in 1968, and shortly after, officially closed.